Four cuts from Gradient Logic and Native Red for the 10th release on Violette Szabo.
001.Features
HVL – Ostati [OA008]
After releasing HVL’s Away From Everything We Know 12” back in 2015, Organic Analogue welcome the Georgian producer back to present his long-awaited debut album. As a resident of the much-vaunted club BASSIANI, HVL conceived Ostati as a document of the sound of Tbilisi – centred on warm, outboard house and techno but with a noticeably understated mood. The club tracks take a pared down approach that favours space and meditation over bold brush strokes, but between the teeth-gnashing bite of ”Askinkila” or the rough and ready acid workout ”Continuum,” the sound is gutsy and dripping with character. Ostati spells out a space where dim lights and mysterious corners provide a playground for wild ideas to dart around in the dark. The overall atmosphere may appear subdued, but it’s merely a cover for the fiery spirit lurking underneath.”
Annette – Dream 17 [MC019]
Mint Condition is a reissue label focused on excavating the outer fringes of classic House and Techno. Unreleased mixes, classics and overlooked gems mined from the last 20+ of contemporary dance music are the order of the day. 1988, the second ‘summer of love’, the UK is in the grip of acid house fever, warehouses, sports halls, basements and nightclubs are reverberating to the new dance sounds emanating from Chicago and Detroit. Annette was built around vocalist Annette Dos Reis and it this was a veritable all-star group featuring Mike Pickering, A guy called Gerald, Simon Topping and Ritchie Close. ‘Dream 17’ was the group’s first outing on the newly minted DeConstruction label in 1988. Obviously it made perfect sense to draft in Detroit’s Derrick May to craft a stellar remix.
Otis – Mutual Bliss EP [PTN009]
Otis makes good on his long time friendship with the Partisan crew via four dazzling cuts of future-minded machine funk. From swinging techno to breakbeat and electro, all glued together by that 909 house vibe, the playful side of Otis’ unique sound masks an understated swagger that will rock the floor wherever it’s played.
Intareality – Intazonez Vol.1 [FU01]
London’s Frequencies Unknown present their maiden transmission ‘Intazonez’, a collection of fractured and futurist melodic machine experimentation with a human soul. Label operators Intareality give a 4 tracker that channels myriad influences while retaining a rare air of mystery and the essence of hazy studio encounters and programming sessions late into the night.
Dasha Rush – Acid Sketch [FP025]
Brand new release from Dash Rush – Acid Sketch. After her last release on Sonic Groove – Aint No God Nor King Ep in 2017, Acid Sketch will be her first release this year marking the 25th release on Fullpanda.
Blue Hour – Beyond The Void EP [BLUEHOUR010]
Over the past few years, Luke Standing – the British producer behind the Blue Hour project, has been developing his self-titled imprint as a go-to outlet for high-energy, retro-futuristic dance floor Techno. On BLUEHOUR010 the British producer draws from his trademark palette, offering a brace of perfectly executed, functional dance floor work outs.
Mike Storm – SYMLTD 001: The Ben Sims Edits [SYMLTD001]
Symbolism Ltd kicks off with four strident, hypnotic but powerful Mike Storm tracks, all featuring the unquestionable editing skills of Ben Sims. Super limited pressing.
The Wheel of Rituals – The Wheel of Rituals [V028]
I-F’s Viewlexx label is keeping tight-lipped about this rather fine EP. They’ve offered no details of the artist behind the project – or anything else for that matter – and their promotional spiel consists of one line in Latin. What we can tell you is that it’s a suitably dystopian affair, with the mystery producer launching with a chunk of industrial-tinged experimental electronica (the decidedly fuzzy “Initiation”), before joining the dots between Cabaret Voltaire and Drexciya on the decaying dancefloor electro pomp of “Flight From Reason”. Some will detect a nod towards Test Department on “Refuse Resist” and “Instrument of Power”. Elsewhere, there’s a looser and more alien feel to “Circle of Trust”, while closer “The Wheel of Rituals” is deliciously dark and hypnotic.
Vertical67 – Out Of The Void [VTX009]
Vertical67 returns to his home label with a new EP of four emotional and melodic electro tracks.
Spesimen – Infocalypse Era [FR042]
Luke Eargoggle – Computer Nights [BORFT155]
A wild Electro / Trash Techno EP with full of heart and emotional feelings. It’s wild when it comes to the rhythm section, classic electro but also real punshing 4/4 beat. Emotional when it comes to the melodies.
CEM3340 – Perfect Stranger LP [LOP05]
CEM3340 is back on Lunar Orbiter Program withi his first LP. Following up a couple of great EPs on Lunar Orbiter Program back in 2017, the mysterious and shadowy CEM3340 is back with his debut LP for the London based imprint. Expect yet more of their proper underground electro from a Drexciyan point of view, on the Perfect Stranger LP: from the dirty future funk of “Story Of An Egyptian Man”, the steely EBM/industrial influence on “Tormented Man” or “Jammin’ in the Dark” or just straight up-in-your face electro breaks like on the killer “I Can’t Get Wrong”.
Lithium Parasites / DJ Overdose – When Cities Collide III [RHR003]
When Cities Collide III features Lithium Parasites which is a project from former Ultradyne member Alex Lugo together with Alonzo. On this RotterHague release their combined strength brings out what sounds like dystopian cruising music. Watch those crumbled skylines pass by. DJ Overdose does what DJ Overdose does.
Electro Nation – Clone EP [REEN003]
Lake Haze – The Observer EP [CR1298]
Next up on Creme Organizaiton is Lake Haze. The Hague based Portuguese artist is a regular on this label having put out four EPs in the last two years. He’s an esteemed talent with a blistering sound that fuses futuristic techno and electro into storytelling dancefloor dynamite. Space Reservoirs kicks off this EP with slow but heavy drum work, acid twitches and spooky cosmic echoes. The Observer picks up the pace with quick and slick kicks from the streets of Detroit overlaid with ripping electro basslines and deep space atmospherics. Unexplored Oceanic Territory is expansive electro with busted drums and echoing pads that add real scale before more acid finishes things off with real rawness. Prototype is dark and heavy, with another searing baseline and crisp metallic hits, then Into The Unknown is a blissed out electro roller with dreamy pads and twinkling keys melting into the cosmos. It closes out another essential EP from this timeless producer.
N.O.I.A. / Rubicon / Rude 66 – Morning Bells [COTF16]
Crimes Of The Future continues to demonstrate its expertise in the field of modern day electro and wave based music with this incredible one off missive from an unlikely super group. N.O.I.A, Rubicon and Rude 66 join forces for the bright and bold “Morning Bells,” which stirs up a generous dose of Italo, techno and electro in a cauldron and serves it through a massive wall of synth-powered sound. Who else to remix such a concoction but Timothy J. Fairplay then? The multi-faceted London producer stays true to the original’s dazzling colour and simply beefs up the beats for a cracking alternative mix to the original.
30drop meets Arpanet – Phases EP [30D-006]
An astronomical conjunction has cropped up. Arpanet is back after a long interstellar hibernation and 30drop comes up with its particular vision of the abstract Elektro for the very first time. ‘Phases EP’ takes the primal Warp’s heritage blending hypnotic melodies with rhythmically complex patterns. Arpanet, which keeps the exquisiteness of its previous works for Rephlex, among other labels, gazes into the black profoundness of its own and unique universe. 30drop’s two cuts, ostensibly touched by the Aphex Twin spirit, are a spellbinding exercise of style. ‘Phases EP’ is experimental, atmospheric, rhythmic and, above all, flawless. This enthralling EP is presented in electric blue vinyl. A special shape for a very special alliance.
Artefakt – Falling Into The Light [DSR/C13]
Dutch live-act and DJ duo Artefakt return to Delsin Records with an intricately produced three track release entitled ‘Falling Into The Light’. Artefakt began releasing music together in 2012 and now boast a discography spanning Field Records, Konstrukt and Deep Sound Channel, not to mention regular appearances on Delsin where their debut album entitled ‘Kinship’ dropped in 2017. Returning to Delsin, the pair’s next outing once again demonstrates their ever-evolving sound and is an exciting precursor for the launch of their own label later this year. Rolling drums open the release in ‘The Blue Hour’ as murky synths join hazy atmospherics, making way for ‘Weltformel’ with its racing syncopated percussion and ethereal pads that ebb and flow throughout the mix. Finally, ‘Falling Into The Light’ combines springy kicks with crystalline melodies, metallic elements and rattling effects to conclude a mesmerising release.
Conforce – Terra Modis EP [129DSR]
Conforce is back on his home label with four more of his richly detailed and hugely atmospheric techno tracks. It’s his first release on Delsin since latest album Autonomous back in 2017 and finds him in typical underwater techno territory. ‘Celestion’ kicks things off with smeared pads and rubbery, dubby drums instantly setting a hypnotic groove. The serene ambience makes it feel like you’re deep down in the ocean and various deft sonic details drift by the keep things on the move. ‘Vessel’ is another fathom deep track with supple drums undulating on the sea bed as beams of synth light things up from above. There’s melancholy in the pads that brings a rueful vibe, while ‘Zephyr’ is more troubled and turbulent thanks to the wet, gurgling synths and darker bass sounds. ‘Aerial’ rounds things out with heavyweight, rumbling kicks and ominous energy that keeps you on edge, despite the presence of beautifully celestial keys.
The Hipodrome Of Music 